Bmw 118 - 2005.

Cotta

Good Morning All,

I'm been in the market for a new car for some time and a friend/car dealer has sourced me a BMW 118, 2005, 2 litre.

I was looking for something reasonably strong that could pull a 6f x 4f trailer, easy on fuel and obviously reliable.

I'm a bit concerned about such a car in icy conditions and is it a suitable car for a male? The car is priced at £4100 (expensive?).

What are people's views on this car?

BeenThroughItAll

Cotta wrote: »

Good Morning All,

I'm been in the market for a new car for some time and a friend/car dealer has sourced me a BMW 118, 2005, 2 litre.

I was looking for something reasonably strong that could pull a 6f x 4f trailer, easy on fuel and obviously reliable.

I'm a bit concerned about such a car in icy conditions and is it a suitable car for a male? The car is priced at £4100 (expensive?).

What are people's views on this car?

More information needed

6x4 trailer made of what?
Carrying what load?
Braked or unbraked?
MAM?
Car mileage, history, MOT, tax

Suitable for a male? Seriously? I mean, really; seriously?

Cotta

It's a metal trailer and it would be carrying items to a skip and maybe transporting lawnmower and strimmer from one location to another.

One year's MOT and tax and one previous owner - 120k on the clock.

The_Hurricane

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Suitable for a male? Seriously? I mean, really; seriously?

Agreed, it's really a car for females although some males have been known to drive these cars.

WTFH

BMW for him then.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Cotta asks a simple question and look where it goes, my sister has driven artics for over 40 years all over the continent, she's still a feminine woman, anyone can drive anything now without question, its not 1972 and the days of the Sweeney style blatant sexism any longer.

BMW's arn't all the bomb proof high mileage covering machines they once were, you need to read up on the various BMW forums about the problems specific to the engine in this car, petrol and Diesel.

No worse in icy conditons than any other car fitted with wide summer spec elastic band tyres.

Lots of people still prefer RWD cars, i do, but tyre choice is more important IMO on them than on standard FWD washing machines produced by many others.

Prothet_of_Doom

You can get a better car for £4100.

BeenThroughItAll

Cotta wrote: »

It's a metal trailer and it would be carrying items to a skip and maybe transporting lawnmower and strimmer from one location to another.

One year's MOT and tax and one previous owner - 120k on the clock.

So, the trailer could be between 150-300K or more depending on construction. It could be braked or unbraked, since you didn't tell us.

The lawnmower could be 50-500KG depending on whether it's a push-it-yourself or a full size ride-on.

Strimmer could be 5-10Kg.

So, anywhere between 250KG and 850KG?

If unbraked, that's between legal and illegal.

Max unbraked towing weight on a 118i 5d is 650KG, so could be marginal, but I don't know the exact model.

Max braked towing weight is 1200Kg.

Regarding the towcar, £4100 could be between cheap and expensive depending on condition and history, but again you didn't tell us the history so it's a guess that it might not be bad value.

See why I asked all these questions?

As for the 'is it for a male' thing, do you really care? If so, get a big V8 something or other. Then people will know for certain that you are a well-endowed man.

Cotta

I wish now I never asked - please forget about it.

kwmlondon

The_Hurricane wrote: »

Agreed, it's really a car for females although some males have been known to drive these cars.

It is not a car for males. The seatbelts and door handles are designed specifically for use with long fingernails, and the seats to not support the male genitals fully leading to uncomfortable cornering. The Germans have always built cars for women, Audi's menstrual cycles synchronise with their owners' after two months.

I recommend Volvos, they are built for men, but please make sure you get the right model - the V40 has a headrest that can only support bald men's heads.

Herzlos

It'll do fine, depending on the MAM of the trailer (the maximum weight of the trailer, on a plate on on the hitch bar if it's young enough) and your driving license age (if you're old enough).

You can no doubt get more practical cars for that sort of budget, so it's just down to personal choice.